‘Wayfarer Memorial Rides’

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15th to 17th June 2006: The Lancashire Group’s Wayfarer Weekend at Cefin Brith Bunk House.

As Lancashire Secretary I had been asked to resurrect a traditional Wayfarer Break that had previously been a regular event in the Rough Stuff Fellowship calendar. Taking into account that a scout group now owned the YHA hostel in Cynwyd, I chose the bunkhouse complex of Tyddyn Bychan at Cefn Brith, Cerrig y Drudion SH931 504 advertised in Northern Wheel as our base. It turned out to be a super location with Lynda acting as a great hostess. The group of twenty who joined me for four days of rides, all enjoyed the great accommodation and food all at a very reasonable price.

Thursday 15th June saw a group of 15 take a leisurely ride up to the Visitor Centre at Lynn Brenig Reservoir. After refreshment in the café we headed into the Clocaenog Forest on a quiet track that gave us superb views of the Reservoir and the Snowdon Range to our southwest. We dropped down into the pretty village of Pentre Llyn Cymmer before climbing up to the main B4501, and then the lane that gave us a lovely 3 miles of downhill back to the bunkhouse.

Friday 16th June was the day scheduled for our trip to the Wayfarer, which happened to be the 49th anniversary of the unveiling of the memorial stone by Sir Hugh Rhys-Rankin BT. The stone had originally been supplied and erected by the Lancashire Section which made the ride all the more significant.

The ride was split into three sections. John and a party of two others decided that they wanted to take the route of Wayfarer’s ‘Over the Top’ but in the opposite direction, and they rode from Cynwyd to Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog. The second group led by Peter and Brian rode from the bunkhouses to Cynwyd to meet my group, which rode from Llandrillo to Cynwyd. We used the lane ascent from SJ049 397, and after a long climb and walk up the tarmac we eventually met the rough track that led us up to the memorial. We had a minute’s silence in honor of Wayfarer and our Lancashire colleagues who were no longer with us. The tin box placed by the Lancashire group 49 years ago had sadly been removed, however a new and very substantial box was now in its place made and donated by Richard of www.mill-services.com and replaced by Paul Humphrey’s from The Countryside Recreational Access Group, to whom we are very grateful. The books for visitors to write in are still in the box although many of the comments written in them are not suitable for print. (A sad reflection of the times we live in). After our group had made their entries in the book we made our way down taking a left fork onto the track down to Llandrillo. On this track we found a small stone bridge and waterfall, which made a great spot for our lunch stop. After lunch we made our way carefully down the rocky, bumpy track into Llandrillo. My party made their way by car whilst Brian and Peter’s party rode the back lanes to Bala where we had arranged to have tea together at the Leisure Centre on the lakeshore. After tea Brian’s party made their way by road back to the pub in Cerrig y Drudion where we all met up for a deserved pint before turning in for the night.

Saturday 17th June dawned warm and sunny, we made our way back to the Visitor Centre café at Llyn Brenig for morning coffee before heading into the Clocaenog Forest on forest trails that took us to our lunch stop at the small fishing lake at Rhyd Galed from there we rode more forest tracks to emerge at the lane at SJ022 565 and a steep descent down to Cyffylliog. From here we rode an undulating lane above the river Nant Gladur before rejoining the forest at SJ037 546. Taking a left at the next major crossroads to drop us steeply down into Tal Y Cefn Isaf continuing on the lane turning right to meet the B4501 back into Cerrig y Drudion for afternoon tea and to stock up with wine and beer for our Barbeque that evening. The day ended with a slide show and a great barbeque in the purpose built all weather BQ hut that kept the tenacious midges at bay. We all went to bed contentedly warm and well lubricated for a good night’s sleep.

Sunday 18th June commenced with our by now traditional coffee stop at Llyn Brenig, by this time it was raining and some of the party had decided to make for home. The remaining 14 enjoyed a leisurely ride around the reservoir (11 mile) to end what was a very successful 4 days of rides in good company and fellowship.

Rob Burrows